Preparation and Cytotoxicity Evaluation of Some Amino Acid Methyl Ester Schiff Bases

Abstract

In this study, we prepared nine Schiff bases by condensation of amino acid methylesters (isoleucine, phenylalanine, and methionine) with salicylaldehyde derivatives (2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde, 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde, and 5-bromo-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde) and characterized by various spectroscopic methods (FT-IR, UV-Vis, andNMR techniques). FT-IR and UV-Vis spectra exhibited characteristic peaks for all iminecompounds. NMR spectra pointed out the imine bond which is the indicator of the formation ofSchiff bases. Besides, antiproliferative and cytotoxic features of the Schiff bases were examinedby using MTT cell proliferation and LDH cytotoxicity assays, respectively. Amongst thesynthesized Schiff bases, compound 3d exhibited a very strong antiproliferative effect againstall cells except A549. The experimental studies revealed that the Schiff bases synthesized in thisstudy, especially 3d, have an important potential to enter drug developmental studies.